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Gosnell refuses to defend self in horrific abortion trial

Kermit Gosnell has declined to testify or call witnesses at his murder trial. Now jurors will hear closing arguments on Monday and then decide if he is guilty. The move is a surprise, but the defense has already made a strong counter-attack.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (Catholic Online) - Kermit Gosnell has turned down the opportunity to present his side of the case in his murder trial. Gosnell is accused of running a filthy abortion mill, murdering children who were born alive, following procedures that killed one woman and literally butchered others, and mutilating the corpses of the babies he murdered. He has also been accused of running an illegal prescription drug ring from his house of horrors of a clinic.

Prosecutors have spent five weeks calling witnesses to provide blistering testimony of Gosnell's behavior, including saying that he joked as he murdered babies that were born alive and that children were tossed into toilet bowls to swim before he or an assistant murdered them with scissors.

However, the defense hasn't been idle. Yesterday, Gosnell's lawyers were successful in having several murder charges tossed out. Meanwhile, they fiercely cross-examined witnesses, making most of their case at that time.

The defense alleges that there is no evidence that a single baby was born alive, and that movements, including cries, breathing, and attempts to swim in a toilet bowl, were consistent with the reflexes of a dead child.

It seems strange that dead children can exhibit such disturbing reflexes.

Gosnell also gave several women particularly horrific late-term abortions, as late as 30 weeks, well beyond the state's legal limit of 24 weeks.

Gosnell also hired staff that was woefully untrained and unlicensed. Several of Gosnell's staff have plead guilty to charges they committed murder or participated in it.

Records also indicate that Gosnell even performed abortions in minor children, against their will. In one previous civil case, whose details remain sealed, a judgment was rendered against Gosnell for performing an abortion on a fifteen-year-old without permission.

State officials have also faced scrutiny for failing to inspect or respond to complaints about Gosnell's abortion mill.

Gosnell came to attention only after police raided a literal human butcher shop as part of an investigation into his illegal sale of prescription drugs.

A woman also died in his clinic in 2009 after he overdosed her on painkillers according to the grand jury which indicted him.

If convicted, Gonsell could face the death penalty, but any sentence is likely to be symbolic. Gonsell is 72, and will probably die in prison upon conviction for any of his current offenses.